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Native America Calling: Indigenous Winter Olympians compete for gold in Italy
Friday, February 13, 2026

Indigenous Winter Olympians compete for gold in Italy
Inuit siblings Ukaleq Slettemark and Sondre Slettemark are competing for Greenland in the biathlon at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.

In addition to making their mark in elite athletic competition, the siblings used their platform to speak out against the Donald Trump administration’s threats to take over their homeland.

The Slettemarks are among the handful of Indigenous athletes at this year’s Winter Games. Other athletes include Trinity Ellis, a Métis luge competitor, and Luca Harrington, a Māori freestyle skier.

Tune into Native America Calling to get insights from Indigenous journalists and athletes keeping up with the high level competition in Milan.

Guests on Native America Calling
Dan Ninham (Oneida Nation of Wisconsin), freelance reporter for ICT News and director of the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame

Naomi Lang (Karuk Tribe), former Olympic ice skater and first Native American woman to represent the United States in the Winter Olympics

Eric Varderman (Cherokee Nation), founder and president of the Tulsa Curling Club in Oklahoma

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